The Superhuman Gambit

Steps

(Optional) Ask Derek for information about the Mechanist and Antagonizer.

(Optional) Find the Mechanist and stop him.

Report back to town for your reward.

Items

Combat Shotgun

Knife

Steam Gauge Assembly (x2)

Rake

Stimpak (x3)

Dirty Water (x2)

Sensor Module (x2)

Wonderglue

Blood Pack

Potato Crisps

Purified Water

Dandy Boy Apples (x2)

Conductor

Part 1

Canterbury Common is a sizeable settlement on the far eastern end of the Capital Wasteland. Due north of the downtown area, the town is located north of Vault 108 and the Corvega Factory, and is a pretty simple place to find. When you first arrive, however, you'll find a rather bizarre scene… and that's really saying something considering the irradiated Capital Wasteland is one huge bizarre scene. Two superhero-like characters, who you later find out are named The Mechanist and The AntAgonizer, are heated foes. And by the looks of it, they're dragging the rest of the town into their messy rivalry.<brclear ></brclear>

When the two foes disappear towards their yet-unknown lairs, you're free to investigate Canterbury Commons in order to find out some additional information. There aren't many people to speak with, unfortunately, but each person you find will have something interesting to say and can certainly help you in your quest to stop these warring maniacs. The first person you're going to want to seek out, bar none, is Uncle Roe. Chances are he'll intercept you as soon as he sees you. You'll get the most information on the situation (and about Canterbury Commons) from him. After picking his brain, however, you'll want to move on and speak with some other people in the town.

There are four other characters worth talking to. The young boy that Uncle Roe tells you about, Derek Pacion, can give you plenty of information about The Mechanist in particular, though he seems pretty smitten with the conflict of the two superheroes, since his life is otherwise a bore. Dominic "Dom" D'Ellsadro is the town's gun-slinger, who takes care of the town's dirty business. Make sure to speak with him as well. The two other characters, Joe Porter and Machete, have little to say, but they should still be spoken with as well.

When you're done speaking with all of the aforementioned people, it's time to do any last-minute exploration of Canterbury Commons. Then, you should consider which of the two superheroes/villains you want to go after. Do you want to go after the AntAgonizer? Or do you want to go after The Mechanist? Remember that going after both is a futile endeavor, both unnecessary and theoretically impossible. We've opted to go after the AntAgonizer, and she's located north of town. If you want to after her nemesis, The Mechanist, then you're free to do so. Please keep in mind that that branch isn't covered in this guide.

Finding the AntAgonizer's Lair isn't too difficult, though you'll be on your own to add to it your map. You'll want to head northwest of town, but not too far off (the town should still be in your purview). There's some rocky terrain at the northwest section of town, so walk around this area until you hear the familiar "ding" of your Pip-Boy adding a new location to your map. You'll see the door leading into the rocky terrain; this is the lair you seek.

Part 2

Once inside, head forward to the intersection, being mindful of the mine laid there. Then, with your back facing the way you came, turn right. This leads to a dead end, but there are plenty of items to add to your inventory here, including three Stimpaks, valuable Sensor Modules and a Steam Gauge Assembly amongst other goods. Also be certain to disable the trap here, which will earn you a Combat Shotgun. Then, go back to the intersection and head forward, going down the stairs and through the door, deeper into the AntAgonizer's lair.

Head down the lengthy staircase as it winds deeper and deeper into the subterranean lair. When you have the opportunity to head right, bypass the room for now. Instead, follow the corridor ahead of you over some planted mines and to a dead end. You should be able to add a valuable Steam Gauge Assembly to your inventory here. Then, backtrack and opt to go into the room we earlier ignored. Hit a switch on the far wall to make a staircase appear, and then climb down the newly-founded staircase.

The stairs will lead you to a sewer full of irradiated water, but thankfully you don't have to do anything other than cross the water and enter through a hole leading to another pathway. Now's the time where you'll start to encounter the AntAgonizer's ant fiends, first in the form of weak worker ants, and then in the form of more powerful soldiers. Thankfully, weapons like the Combat Shotgun do them in rather easily, especially if you aim for the head. Simply traverse this pathway (it's completely linear, even when it appears it's not), and enter the lair proper upon your arrival to another wooden door.

Walk through the pathway and enter the makeshift throne room of the AntAgonizer. Approach her on her throne and a conversation with her will begin. While there are multiple ways to get through this (you can join her or convince her to stop her attacks, for instance), we still opted to attack her and kill her to put an end to the madness. If this happens for you, she'll summon her soldier ants to attack you while she fires on you from afar. A great way to handle this particular situation is to use some Frag Mines on the ants when they're bunched together. Chances are, this will fray at least one of their antennas, and they'll begin to attack each other, and even their human master. This will give you the opportunity you need to lay the killing blow on the AntAgonizer.

Regardless of how the situation is handled, be sure to explore her pad for some items (such as some Dandy Boy Apples, Purified Water, a Conductor and more), and then leave, heading back the way you came to reach Canterbury Commons (if you killed her, you can sleep in her bed if you need to heal). Once back in the Commons, seek out Uncle Roe. He may be in his house if you don't find him walking the streets. Simply alert him to the fact that the AntAgonizer has been dealt with, and he'll thank you for your work, handing over your reward in the process. And just like that, the side quest is completed! Oh, and if you want to follow up on The Mechanist (even though you don't have to), the best place to start is the Robot Repair Center due south of town.